338 - Retrospective Review: Oral Conscious Sedation Prior to General Anesthesia

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between Oral Conscious Sedation (OCS) and General Anesthesia (GA) to provide an outcome-based reference for treatment recommendations.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of children who completed at least one visit where oral conscious sedation medications were administered resulting in a subsequent in-office general anesthesia visit in order to complete dental treatment. Reviewed charts of children between the ages of 1.5 – 8 years that completed treatment between 2018-2020 under OCS and GA.

Results:

Of 375 pediatric patients identified between 2017-2020; a total of 77 (20.53%) children (49 males, 28 females) mean age of 4.2 years at initial exam completed at least 1 oral conscious sedation appointment prior to the first general anesthesia visit. The mean number of oral conscious sedation appointments prior to first general anesthesia appointment was 3.61 with a standard deviation of 2.14.  The mean age of patient with unsuccessful oral conscious sedation appointment was 4.96 with a standard deviation of 1.08. The mean number of dental procedures completed under oral conscious sedation was 3.2 while the mean number of procedures completed under general anesthesia was 7.8 (p= < 0.001). There was 23.59% procedural re-treatment under general anesthesia.

Conclusions:  

The results showed statistically significant difference in the average number of procedures completed during the first OCS appointment compared to the first GA appointment. The probability for treatment under general anesthesia increased for children under age of 5 requiring more than 7 procedures.